Yoko Ono Urges New Gun Control Laws

Since John Lennon was shot and killed on Dec. 8, 1980, his widow Yoko Ono has devoted herself to campaigning for stricter gun control legislation -- so it's only fitting that yesterday (March 21), Ono celebrated what should have been their 44th wedding anniversary by issuing a poignant reminder of what's at stake in the ongoing battle over our interpretation of the Second Amendment.

Ono tweeted to followers a photo of the glasses Lennon was wearing when he was murdered -- still splattered with the former Beatle's blood -- along with the caption "Over 1,057,000 people have been killed by guns in the U.S.A. since John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980."

That's the kind of grim imagery (and number) that speaks for itself, but Ono continued to address her followers, adding, "31,537 people are killed by guns in the U.S.A. every year. We are turning this beautiful country into war zone" and "Together, let’s bring back America, the green land of peace."

She concluded with a fourth tweet, saying, "The death of a loved one is a hollowing experience. After 33 years our son Sean and I still miss him."

Ono's tweets coincided with widespread outrage over the removal of an assault-weapons ban from gun control legislation currently making its way through the U.S. Senate -- a decision memorably scorned with a harrowing cover of the New York Daily News.